Volvo’s First EV Will be Derived from the XC40; Bolder EVs Will Carry Polestar Badge

EVs will be the next step in Volvo’s road to auto dominance

Volvo has confirmed that its first electric vehicle will be derived from the XC40 crossover and that it will arrive after Polestar introduces its second model in 2019. The battery-electric version of the XC40 will be followed by an EV version of the XC90, which is scheduled for a 2021 race. Volvo also has no plans of building electric-only models, opting instead to develop EV versions of its current models.

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If the schedule follows, the EV XC40 could arrive as early as late 2019 or early 2020

Volvo design chief Thomas Ingenlath has confirmed what we’ve known for quite some time now. “It’s not a secret anymore that the first full electric Volvo is on its way with the XC40 coming,” Ingenlath told Autocar. “It will arrive very soon after the Polestar 2. That is the first to come that’s not exotic. We’ll start with XC40 and then on it will come step after step into our model range. The next car will be the next-generation XC90.”

So yeah, the Volvo XC40 will get the first crack at being electrified. If the schedule follows, the EV XC40 could arrive as early as late 2019 or early 2020. Either way, it’s going to launch after Polestar releases the Polestar 2, which appears to have a set release date of 2019.

Moving forward, Volvo’s plans call for expanding its current lineup and adding EV models within its existing model portfolio. It’s a different approach from what other automakers are doing, but Volvo believes that it’s a more natural step in the evolution of electric cars that fall under mainstream lineups. That said, the automaker still has plans to develop performance-oriented EVs. They just won’t be badged as Volvos but as Polestars.

Volvo’s plans call for expanding its current lineup and adding EV models within its existing model portfolio

“To look at new formats, new body styles, and non-traditional elements, we founded Polestar to take care of that end of the scope,” Ingelath said. “We developed that strategy: full electrification of the Volvo range, making it a natural part of the offer, and at the same time developing new, unconventional elements in the Polestar brand.”

It’s a smart plan to differentiate conventional EV models with purpose-built electric vehicles. At the very least, having its own electric vehicles that it can call its own gives Polestar a chance to really establish itself as a legitimate performance company that doesn’t have to rely on Volvo to get more shine on its name.